US threat to Assad over sarin bombing
MILITARY action in Syria edged closer last night as the US declared that dictator Bashar Assad should have no role in the country’s future.
US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson spoke out after Turkey confirmed that scores of men, women and children killed in a suspected Syrian government air attack were victims of the banned nerve gas sarin.
President Donald Trump insisted “something should happen” after what he called “heinous actions by the Assad regime”.
Eyewitnesses said the chemical attack came when a Syrian army Sukhoi-22 jet dropped a bomb which engulfed the rebel-held Syrian town of Khan Sheikhoun in white smoke.
Children’s charity UNICEF yesterday confirmed at least 27 children were among the 86 dead and another 546, many of them children, were injured.
Mr Tillerson said the US would be “considering an appropriate response”.
He added: “There is no doubt in our minds, and the information we have supports that Syria, the Syria regime under the leadership of President Bashar Assad are responsible for this attack.”
President Assad denied any involvement, saying the chemicals were from a rebelheld A child victim of the attack in tears as he recovers in hospital store. Russian President for the Assad regime.” Vladimir Putin called allegations President Trump said last against the Assad night: “I think what Assad regime “groundless”. did is terrible.
But after carrying out “I think what happened in autopsies on some of the Syria is a disgrace to humanity victims, Turkey’s health ministry and he’s there and I guess said yesterday: “Based he’s running things, so on the test results, evidence something should happen.” was detected in patients A US source claimed that which leads one to think they The Pentagon and the White were exposed to a chemical House are in detailed talks substance (sarin).” on military options.
Mr Tillerson added: “It is Defence Secretary Jim very important that the Russian Mattis will discuss them government consider when he meets President carefully their continued support Donald Trump at his Mar-aLago retreat in Florida, an official said. The source said: “We are told that the President himself is making calls to senior members of Congress saying he is seriously considering something he said he would never do, not that long ago, which is military action in Syria.”
Among victims of the chemical attack, near Idlib in north-west Syria, were the wife of a shopkeeper and their two nine-month-old twins. At least 400,000 people have died in Syria since 2011.